Inspiration

Going to UCM, I wanted something that helps people access the resources that are available to them, especially when they need help most.

What it does

Connect Warrensburg is a website that allows users to type their situation into the text box and get connected with resources that can help.

How we built it

The frontend - React, Vite, Tailwind CSS, Lucide React. The backend and AI - Google Gemini 3.5 Flash Lite, Vercel serverless functions. Data - JSON file with 29 different Warrensburg and UCM resources, specifically from the Western Missouri Medical Center Community Guide, UCM website, and United Way 211.

Challenges we ran into

One challenge I ran into while working on this was getting the Google Gemini API working. This was my first time ever using an API in a solo project and it was a great learning experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud that this program works and has a genuinely useful application. I can see myself and everyone at UCM benefiting from using this program.

What we learned

This is my first solo project, as well as my first project outside of a class that isn't a game. Doing this by myself forced me to learn more about the backend side of software development, as well as how to get the different pieces of the program working together.

What's next for Connect Warrensburg

Connect Warrensburg could expand into a program that works for any city. Expanding to other places sounds great, however I ensured that the data was relevant and correct before launching the website. I would love for Connect Warrensburg to become Connect Everywhere, however because of the time constraint and my goal for accurate information, I had to limit it to just Warrensburg.